DYNAMIC LUMBOSACRAL RADIOGRAPH IN COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL LUMBOSACRAL RADIOGRAPH IN FINDING DEGENERATIVE DISEASE OF THE LUMBAR SPINE

Abstract

Degenerative lumbar spine disease is a leading cause of disability, reducing patient's quality of life. However, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the primary diagnostic modality, is not routinely feasible due to high cost and limited availability. Routine anteroposterior (AP) and lateral plain radiographs remain inferior to MRI, highlighting the need for alternative modalities such as vertebral dynamic radiography (flexion-extension views) to assess intervertebral instability. This analytic observational study used a cross-sectional design analyzing 42 patients at RSUD Dr. Moewardi (February 2019 - February 2020) with MRI-confirmed degenerative disease, the study compared findings of spondylolisthesis, vacuum disk phenomenon, osteophytes, and intervertebral space narrowing. Statistical analysis obtained p-value <0.05, demonstrating that dynamic radiographs possess higher sensitivity for detecting degenerative diseases of the spine than conventional views. Furthermore, the vacuum disk phenomenon was most prevalent in extension radiographs and least frequent in flexion. While osteophyte detection and intervertebral space narrowing remained consistent across both modalities, the dynamic study proved superior in assessing joint instability. The study concludes that there was a significant difference in the findings of spondylolisthesis on dynamic lateral radiographs and conventional lateral radiographs.